Polishing belt



Aug. 25', 1942. c. F. scHLEGEL 2,294,245

IoLIsHI'NG BELT Fild Feb. 1, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 PDLIASHING BELT 4Filed Feb. 1, '1940' 2 sheets-sheet 2 Z-SATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 25, 1942 -UNITEDF-STATES PATENT oI-Flca POLISHING BELT Carl F. Schlegel, Brighton, N. Y., assignor to The Schlegel Manufacturing Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 1, 1040, Serial No. 316,813

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a polishing belt, particularly that type of belt adapted to be rotated at high speed' by means of a driving pulley or drum and adapted to be heldA in'pressure contact with the work to be polished.

.An object of my invention is'to provide a generally improved and more satisfactory polishing belt of simple construction which is relatively inexpensive to fabricate and which is sturdy and eifectiveV in use.

Another object of my invention is to provide a polishing belt which is seamless and which does not appreciably stretch-during use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a polishing belt which is seamless, possesses good tractive characteristics, and which is substantially non-stretchable in use.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved gun swab of simple construction.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, and will be apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a View partly diagrammatic showing one way in which my polishing belt may be advantageouslyl employed Fig. 2 is a view showing the polishing belt with the end of the strip of which the belt is made in displaced position so as to more clearly illustrate its construction and method of manufacture;

Fig. 3 is a vview showing a portion of a strip which may be employed in making the belt;

Fig. 4 is a sectional viewthrough a portion of the belt;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged View of Fig. 3 somewhat exaggerated to better illustrate how the polishing strands are held'together;

Fig. 6 is a view showing one method which may be employed in manufacturing the polishing beit of Figs. l'to 5, inclusive, but illustrating the method as applied to the manufacture oi' a gun swab;

Fig. 7 is a view of the completedv gun swab;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on a diameter of the gun swab;

Fig. 9 is. an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 8 to better illustratethe warp strands; and

Fig. 10 is a view of the strip which may be employed in making the gun swab of Fig. 7.

The polishing belt of my invention, in addiv tion to other uses, is adapted to be employed in a polishing machine of the type' diagrammati- 55 cally illustrated in Fig. 1. In Figxl I have shown a section of a carriage employed in a polishing machine of the type used in the polishing of sheet materials such as stainless steel sheets. The belt, generally'indicated by the numeral II, is mounted on a pair of pulleys or drums I2, one of which is adapted to be driven so as to rotate the belt at highspeed. In polishing machines of this character, any desired speed of rotation may be employed, b ut usually the belt is driven at extremely high speeds of approximately 3500 lineal feet per minute. The belt is held in pressure and polishing engagement with the work to be polished by means of an adjustable idler pulley I3. The pressure on the idler pulley and hence the pressure on the Work may be adjusted by regulating suitable weights, the polishing pres-l sure varying usually from 200 to 600 pounds'. The adjustment of the idlerv pulley I3 and the method of varying the polishing pressure have not been shown, since they do not constitute a part of my present invention.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 5, the polishing belt is made up of polishing fibers or strands I6 which may be of any suitable material. I preferably employ one or more of the textile fibers, such as cotton. linen, wool, flax, jute, hemp, silk or rayon. Of these, I have foundthat wool bers are quite'satisfactory, particularly where a soft texture is desired. If desired, there may be incorporated with the strands of wool or other polishing material, metallic strands in case an abrasive as Well as a polishing action is desired.

In making the belt, a multiplicity of separate fibers are secured together in the form of a strip, the fibers being doubled or folded in the form of a loop, as shown at I1. There is thus provided what may be termed an anchoring section Il and a fringe section I9. For the purpose of securing the separate strands I6 "in assembled relation and in strip form, I provide one or more rows of stitching 2l which extend 'crosswise of the strands I6 through the anchoring section I8.

The stitching or warp strands 2| may bein the' form of a simple chain stitch, although other types of stitching may be employed.

For the purpose of spacing the strands I6` andl for a purpose which will later appear, there may4 be provided a filler strand 22 of suitable fibrous material. By varying the diameter of the iiller strand 22 the spacing of the brous polishing strands may be varied to secure the desired fibre density at the polishing face. vPreferably two or more rows of warp strands or chain stitching 2| are employed so that the filler strandr 22 may be doubled back and forth in a serpentine manner and held in position by the rows of st1tch1ng.

In the particular arrangement shown three rows strands I6 and which are merely laid straightwise upon the polishing strands I6.

In a polishing belt of the character with which my invention is concerned, it is particularly desirable that when the beltV is in use that it not stretch to any appreciable degree. The warp strands 23 are, therefore, preferably of some nonstretchable material.

fer to employ linen fibers which are exceedingly strong and do not stretch to any appreciable de-` gree. After the strip has been woven on a suitable knitting machine or loom so that it takes substantially the form shown in Fig. 5, the strip is made up into a belt preferably in the manner now to be described.

In Fig. 6 I have'illustrated one method by which an article of somewhat similar character may be made. The article shown in Fig. 6 is intended to be used as a gun swab, but it will be understood that the polishing belt of Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, may be made in a similar manner by the general method indicated in Fig. 6. In making the belt an arbor 26 is provided which has secured thereto a backing disc 21. the strip is suitably anchoredto the disk or to the arbor adjacent the disk and the arbor is rotated while holding the end 28 of the strip taut-by any suitable means. It will be noted that the strip is wound so that the polishing fibers I6 extend radially outward with respect to the axis of the arbor and so that the anchoring section I8 of the strip lies adjacent the circumference of the arbor.

'I'he strip is wound so that the separate convolutions thereof lie in the form of a helix around the circumference of the arbor. In the' claims appended hereto wherever the word helix or derivatives thereof are employed it is intended that the term shall be used in its technical sense and describe a structure wherein the convolutions extend and progress around the surface of a cylinder. The term is not intended to include within its scope spirally arranged convolutions, such as shown, for example, in my copending application Ser. No. 351,972.

The separate convolutions of the belt are caused to adhere to each other by applying to the anchoring portion I8 of the strip an adhesive material. Preferably the adhesive employed is one which upon drying and solidifying isv flexible. I have found a suitable adhesive for the purpose to be latex. While the latex may be applied in any suitable manner preferably it is applied si'- multaneously with the winding of the strip around the arbor. The latex may be'painted or sprayed on the anchoring section of the strip as the arbor is rotated so that when the belt is completed the separate convolutions are rmly anchored and adhered to each other.

In applying the latex preferably an excess of latex is used so that, as shown in Fig. 4, the latex, indicated by the numeral 3|, covers the strands For example, if desired,` ne metal wire may be employed, although I pre-` One end of and forms a rather heavy section of rubbery material. The latex, because when it is applied it is in a 'owable condition, tends to enter the interstices 32 between the anchoring ends of the strands I6, the stitching 2|, thevller strand 22 coating 33 on the inner surface of the belt. The

latex material forming the coating 33 is somewhat rough and forms an exceedingly eilicient frictional surface. It will be appreciated that the polishingpressure causes a considerable drag on the belt which would be likely to cause belt slippage. The surface 33 is of such character that .the pulleys or drums I2 are capable of rotating the belt at high speed against the drag. of the polishing pressure without appreciable slippage.

One of the important features of my invention is the employment of the non-stretchable strands 23 which it will .be noted extend substantially in a helical manner around the belt and serve to prevent the belt from increasing appreciably in diameter. As previously mentioned, the latex enters the interstices between the various strands' desired distortion of the anchoring section or' slippage of the strands with respect to each other is minimized. At the same time the anchoring' section is flexible and elastic so that the belt may be flexed out of the somewhat circular form shown in Fig. 2 so as to arrange the belt over the pulleys or drums I2. The belt may be made in any desired length and may be of any desired width. The diameter of the belt, for example, may be as small as three inches or as large as several feet. The same general method of making the belt may be employed regardless of its width or length.

Of particular importance is the fact that the belt is jointless and, therefore, is accurately balanced so that it is capable of being rotated vat high lineal speeds. periods of use the belt willgretain substantially its original length so that it may be employed in a machine where no provision is made for taking up slack. In addition the belt is impervious to alkalis and acids.

In Figs. Z to'10, inclusive, I have shown the same general method employed in making a gun swab. The gun swab shown in Fig. 7 is relatively small in diameter depending upon the bore of the gun with which it is to be used. Preferably the swab is somewhat longer than its diameter. The strip of material employed in making the gun swab may be the same as that described above. However, in a gun swab it is unnecessary that the filler strands or the nonstretchable strands 23 be employed'as the gun swab isl not subjected to centrifugal forces. Thus as shown in Fig. 10 the strands 36 which may be of wool fibers, or any of the other materials mentioned above, may be secured together Moreover, even afterV long by one or more rows of simple chain stitching, as shown at I1. As previously described the strip is wound about an arbor and preferably the latex 3l is applied as the strip is wound. As in the polishing belt of my invention preferably an excess oi' latex material is used. The latex is applied in a fluid condition so that it flows into the interstices between the strands and between the threads of the chain stitching so as to provide an integral unitary base structure from which the fringed portion 39 of the strands protrude and in which the strands are rmly anchored.

The structure of Figs. 7 to 10 may also be used 'as a polishing element. when so used it 1s, or

course, mounted on an arbor as indicated at 4l in Fig. '7. If desired, the arbor may be oi.' an adjustable type. If the structure of Fig. 7 is employed as a polishing element and rotated at high speed so as to be subjected to centrifugal forces, it is desirable that the means described in connection with the structure of Figs. 1 to 5 for preventing stretching or equivalents thereof, be employed in connection therewith.

While I have shown the preferred forms of my invention and described the preferred method of manufacture, it will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made, particularly in the form and relation of parts, without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A flexible processing band formed of a fabric strip wound in juxtaposed, helical coils about a central axis, said strip for a portion of its width and along one longitudinal margin being woven and for the remainder of its width and along the opposite longitudinal margin being composed of substantially loose weft strands projecting from the woven marginal portion radially outward from said axis so as to form a pile on the outer periphery of said band, said strip having its longitudinal woven marginal portion treated with a ilexible rubber composition entering the interstices and securing the woven fabric strands together and securing the woven marginal portions of successive helical coils to one another, said rubber composition extending throughout the successive helical coils and being intermingled therewith, so as to bind the same together into an integral flexible unit.

2. A flexible processing band formed of a fabric strip wound in juxtaposed coils of substantially uniform length corresponding to the length of said band, said strip for a portion of its width and along one longitudinal margin being woven and for the remainder of its width and along the opposite longitudinal margin being composed of substantially loose weft strands projecting from the wove'n marginal portion outwardly normal to the outer peripheral surface of said band so as to form a pile on said outer band surface, said strip having its longitudinal woven marginal portion treated with a flexible rubber composition entering the interstices and securing the woven fabric strands together and securing the woven marginal portions of successive coils to one another, said rubber composition forming a coating on the inner surface of said band opposite said pile and extending throughout the successive coils and being intermingled therewith so as to bind the same together into an integral ilexible unit.

3. A flexible processing band formed of a fabric strip wound in juxtaposed coils of substantially uniform length corresponding to the length oi said band, said strip for a portion of its width and along one longitudinal margin being woven of warp and weft strands and for the remainder of its width and along the opposite longitudinal margin being composed of substantially loose weft strands, said weft strands being so interwoven with the warp strands as to be folded over the outermost warp strand with the opposite end portions of said weft strands interwoven with the remaining warp strands and projecting from said woven marginal portion outwardly normal to the outer peripheral surface of said band so as to form a pile on said outer band surface, said strip having its longitudinal woven marginal portion treated with a ilexible rubber composition entering the interstices and securing the woven fabric strands together and securing the woven ymarginal portion of successive coils to one another, said rubber composition extending throughout the successive coils and being intermingled therewith so as to bind the same together into an integral flexible unit.

4. A flexible processing band formed of a fabric strip wound in juxtaposed coils of substantially uniform length corresponding to the length of said band, said strip for a portion of its width and along one longitudinal margin being wovenv and including one or more filler strands of predetermined size to effect a predetermined spacing between adjacent coils, said strip for the remainder ofv its width and along the opposite longitudinal margin being composed of substantially loose weft strands projecting from the woven marginal portion outwardly normal to the outer peripheral surface of said band so as to form a pile on said outer band surface, said strip having its longitudinal woven marginal portion treated with a flexible rubber composition entering the interstices andsecuring the woven fabric strands together and securing the woven marginal portion of successive coils to one another, said rubber composition extending throughout the successive coils and being intermingled therewith so as to bind the same together into an integral flexible unit.

5. A flexible processing belt formed of a fabric strip wound in juxtaposed coils of substantially uniform length corresponding to the length of said belt, said stripfor a portion of its width and along one longitudinal margin being woven with warp and weft strands including one or more warp strands of substantially non-stretchable construction, said strip for the remainder of its width and along the opposite longitudinal margin being composed of substantially loose weft strands projecting from the woven marginal portion outwardly normal to the outer peripheral surface of said belt, so as to form a pile on said outer belt surface, said strip having its longitudinal woven marginal portion treated with a flexible rubber composition entering the interstices and securing the woven fabric strands together and securing the woven marginal portion of successive coils to one another, said rubber composition extending throughout the successive coils and being intermingled therewith so as to bind the same together into an integral flexible unit.

6. A exible processing belt formed of a fabric strip wound in juxtaposed, helical coils about a central axis, said strip for a portion of its width and along one longitudinal margin being woven of warp and weft strands including one 4or more warp strands of substantially non-stretchable construction, said strip for the remainder of its width and along the opposite longitudinal marginbeing composed of substantially loose weft strands pro- Jecting from the woven marginal portion longitudinally outward from said axis so as to form a pile on the outer periphery of said belt, said strip having its longitudinal woven marginal portion treated with a exible rubber composition entering the interstices and securing `the woven fabric strands together and securing the woven vmarginal portions of successive coils to one another, said rubber composition forming a coating on the inner surface o1' said belt opposite said pile and extending throughout the successive coils and being intermingled therewith so as to bind the same together into an integral flexible unit.

CARL F. SCHLEGEL. 

